Most homeowners only get a clear look at the roof when something goes wrong. A drone survey flips that. It’s a safe way to check the bits you cannot see from the ground, without ladders, scaffolding, or guesswork.

This guide covers what drones typically uncover, the warning signs that should prompt a survey, and what to do with the findings afterwards.

If you want the “what you get and how the report looks” version of this topic, read Drone Roof Surveys: What You Get, When to Book One, and How It Can Save You a Headache.

When is a drone survey worth it?

Book one if you have any of these:

• A leak that appears after heavy rain but you cannot see the source

• Gutters overflowing even after you have cleared what you can reach

• Missing or slipped tiles after wind, storms, or a cold snap

• A chimney that looks “a bit off” from the ground (pots, flashing, mortar, capping)

• You’re planning repairs and want evidence before you commit

• You want a seasonal check without climbing up to look

Also, please do not climb onto a roof to “just have a look”. Falls from height are a major cause of serious injury and roof work needs safe planning and equipment.

Why drones catch problems early

From the ground, most roofs look fine. Up close, you often see early failures that cause the classic “mystery damp patch” weeks later:

• A slipped tile that only leaks in certain wind directions

• A cracked flashing line around a chimney

• A gutter joint that overflows only in heavy rain

• Moss holding moisture where water should run cleanly

• Cracks in mortar at ridge lines or verges

Drones help because they let you inspect junctions and details safely, while staying off the roof. Safety matters here and HSE guidance is clear that roof work needs competent planning and controls, especially around edges and fragile surfaces.

What issues you can’t usually spot from the ground

1) Slipped, cracked or missing tiles (and the chain reaction)

What it looks like in a drone view:

• A tile edge lifted

• A gap at a verge or ridge line

• A small “line” of misalignment where tiles have crept

Why it matters:

• One weak point can let wind-driven rain underneath, and the first sign indoors can be a faint stain that grows.

2) Ridge, hip and verge mortar starting to fail

The early stage is hairline cracking and small gaps. Later, it becomes loose sections, water entry, and in high winds, actual detachment risk.

3) Chimney issues: pots, caps, flashing and mortar

Chimneys are exposed and often the first place that needs attention, especially on older homes.

What to look for:

• Pots leaning, cracked, or missing

• Mortar joints opening up

• Deteriorating capping (flaunching)

• Flashing lifting or splitting where the chimney meets the roof

A simple, sensible tip (even before any drone survey) is to inspect chimneys from the ground with binoculars and look for obvious movement or damage.
If you’re in an older property, SPAB also notes chimneys often need more frequent maintenance but are neglected because access is difficult.

4) Flashing failures at junctions

These are classic leak points:

• chimney flashing

• roof valleys

• dormer cheeks

• abutments where roof meets a wall

A drone can spot lifted edges, cracking, or patch repairs that have failed again.

5) Gutters, outlets and downpipes

Overflow is not always “the gutter needs clearing”. Common drone-find causes:

• a blocked outlet (where water should drop into the downpipe)

• a sagging run holding standing water

• a leaking joint dripping behind the fascia

• vegetation build-up at a corner

If you’re in an older home, Historic England’s maintenance checklist literally calls out clearing gutters of fallen leaves as part of preventative maintenance.

6) Flat roof weak spots

Flat roofs can look fine from the edge and still have:

• pooling water areas

• blistering

• splits at upstands or edges

• deteriorating lap joints

7) Roofline timber and details

Soffits, fascias and bargeboards can show early rot or gaps that lead to draughts, pests, and water ingress behind the scenes.

A simple decision tree: do you need a drone survey or a different next step?

If you have an active leak right now

Start with safety and containment, then diagnosis.

Use this first: Is This an Emergency Repair? A Simple Home Decision Tree.

Then, once things are stable, a drone survey is ideal for finding the source without climbing.

If there’s no active leak, but you want to prevent one

A drone survey is most useful when:

• you’ve had heavy weather recently

• your home is exposed (coastal, high ground, open areas)

• gutters overflow in downpours

• you’ve had recurring damp patches with no obvious cause

What to ask for in the report (so it’s actually useful)

A good homeowner-focused report should include:

• Clear labelled photos of each concern

• Where it is (front slope, rear valley, chimney stack, etc.)

• What the risk is if left alone (leak risk, ongoing deterioration, safety risk)

• Practical next steps (monitor, repair soon, repair urgently)

• A list of “watch points” to re-check next season

CAA rules also matter if you’re hiring someone to fly a drone. The CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code is the baseline guidance for safe and legal drone flying.

Homeowner prep: how to get a better survey outcome

1. Tell us what you’ve noticed
   “The stain is above the bay window” is gold. So is “it only happens in wind-driven rain”.

2. Note recent events
   Storms, slipped tiles, recent gutter cleaning, chimney works, or a new bathroom extractor install can all change the picture.

3. Make access simple
   If you can, clear cars from the driveway and keep pets inside during the survey. It helps us work safely and quickly.

What to do after you get the results

If it’s minor

You’ll usually get a short list of “repair soon” items. These are perfect to bundle together rather than drip-feeding fixes.

If it’s urgent

Do not delay on:

• loose ridge elements

• significant flashing failures

• obvious openings where water can get under the covering

• anything that looks unstable around a chimney

If you’re unsure what “urgent” looks like, use the calm checklist in Is This an Emergency Repair? again and book a visit.

Shareable checklist: the hidden issues a drone survey can reveal

• Slipped, cracked, or missing tiles

• Ridge, hip, and verge mortar cracks

• Chimney pot, capping or mortar deterioration

• Flashing lifting, splitting, or patch repairs failing

• Blocked gutter outlets and sagging runs

• Downpipe blockages and leaking joints

• Flat roof pooling, blistering, or edge failures

• Roofline timber issues (fascia, soffit, bargeboards)

FAQs

Is it safe to inspect my roof with a ladder instead?

Even short-duration work at height needs a sensible risk approach, and roofs add edge and fragile-surface hazards. If the goal is inspection, drones often remove that risk entirely.

Are drones legal for property inspections?

Yes, when flown legally and safely. The CAA Drone Code sets out the rules and responsibilities for operators.

Will a drone survey help with recurring damp patches?

Often, yes, especially if the damp appears after rain, or if gutters overflow. Roof junctions and rainwater goods are common sources that are hard to spot from the ground.

If you’re also tackling condensation and mould indoors, pair this with Awaab’s Law and Damp/Mould: The 2026 Ventilation Checklist Homeowners Can Use Today.

When you want a clear answer (not guesswork)

If you want to identify roof and gutter issues early, or you’ve got a leak you cannot explain, start here:

• Contact

And for the full breakdown of deliverables and next steps, read:

• Drone Roof Surveys: What You Get, When to Book One, and How It Can Save You a Headache

Trusted Sources

• CAA, The Drone and Model Aircraft Code (Jan 2026)

• CAA, Getting what you need to fly legally

• HSE, Working at height (INDG401)

• HSE, Roof work guidance

• Historic England, Maintenance checklist (includes clearing gutters)

• National Trust, Ground-level chimney inspection tips